For the first time in the one hundred and seventy-five-year history of our state, both chambers of the California legislature are led by former CSEA members!

On November 17th, 2025, Senator Monique Limón began her duties as Senate President pro Tempore, making her the first Latina and the first former classified employee to lead the California Senate. She joins Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, also a former CSEA member, in leading the California State Legislature.

No other union has ever had former members occupying both positions at the same time. The top two legislative leaders, having firsthand experience of the critical work that CSEA members do every day, will open new possibilities as we fight to ensure that classified employees receive the respect and benefits they deserve.

“As we approach CSEA’s historic 100th Annual Conference, we celebrate a truly unprecedented moment for our classified members across the state. The combined presence of Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, both proud former CSEA members, is a powerful and irrefutable testament to the leadership, dedication, and deep value that classified employees bring to California,” says Association President Adam Weinberger.

Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón defends classified employees and our students

Senator Limón is a lifelong resident of the Santa Barbara area, where she was a member of Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) Chapter 289. At SBCC, she worked with the California Student Opportunity and Access Program (CAL-SOAP) to help low-income and first-generation students enroll and succeed in college.

From SBCC, she moved to a position with UC Santa Barbara’s Equal Opportunity Program before being elected to the California State Assembly in 2016. In 2020, she was elected to represent the 21st district in the State Senate, then in 2021-2024, she served as chair of the Banking and Financial Institutions Committee. Limón currently serves as chair of the Natural Resources and Water Committee.

During her time in office, she has been a fierce advocate for education and the environment and has always been open to hearing the concerns of classified employees.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas standing up for working people

Assemblymember Rivas is the grandson of migrant farm workers who worked alongside Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta to win labor protections for farm workers. Being raised by his mother and grandparents in farmworker housing gave Rivas a keen sense of the difficulties working people face.

After earning a master’s in public administration, Rivas worked as a high school job training coordinator at San Benito High School, where he was a member of San Benito Chapter 173.

Rivas won election to the State Assembly in 2018 and assumed the speakership in 2022. Since he has been in office, Speaker Rivas has pushed to make California more affordable for working people.

From CSEA member to becoming an elected official

Several other elected officials are former CSEA members including chair of the Public Employment and Retirement Committee, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, as well as Assemblymember James Ramos. Assemblymember Jose Luis Solache is a former classified employee.

This is a historic high-water mark for classified political power at the state level.

If you are interested in running for local public office, such as school board, county board of education, community college board of trustees, or even one day, Senate President pro Tempore, CSEA’s Leadership Academy can help.

Leadership Academy is a training program that provides members with guidance on running for appointed or elected local public office in their communities. A CSEA member on a school board has the unique ability to bring the perspective of classified employees to the critical decisions that those boards make at the local and county levels.

CSEA has the expertise to provide professional guidance for your campaign to help you succeed. Learn more about this program opening this spring at csea.com/lead.